News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Jan 17, 2025

PCSO arrests man after he exposed and fondled himself at a Winter Haven park

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A man was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, January 16, 2025, for lewd activity at Lions Park in Winter Haven (820 Avenue L SW).

PCSO Vice detectives were at the park to conduct undercover operations, following complaints of lewd activity.

“Parks are for individuals and families who want to relax, or enjoy nature. They don’t want to be subjected to people behaving in a crude or vulgar manner. Our undercover detectives routinely visit parks across the county in an effort to keep these areas safe and enjoyable for everyone.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

At around 11:00 am on Thursday, a man yelled-out to an undercover detective, and when the detective approached him, he saw that the man’s pants were pulled down; he was exposed and fondling himself in front of the detective, in public. The man asked the detective to join him in his car.

At that time, the detective broke the news to 30-year old Freddyali Garcia Rivera of Winter Haven that he was an undercover detective for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and he was under arrest.

Garcia Rivera was taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with Exposure of Sexual Organ (M1) and Soliciting Another to Commit Lewdness (M1).